India heads into the Cricket World Cup final as red hot favourites to win, but there’s more on the line than just a third ODI trophy for the host nation.
India have played the perfect tournament so far on their undefeated run to the final, riding the wave of home support and not looking like crumbling under the weight of a nation of 1.4 billion people.
For once, Australia heads into Sunday night’s final as underdogs and the stakes couldn’t be more different for both teams.
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Of course Australia will be desperate to win a sixth title, but there’s a sense it will feel very much like a bonus if they win the final, much like their unexpected triumph at the 2021 T20 World Cup.
But it’s simply victory or bust for India, who are looking to overcome somewhat of a ICC hoodoo — they haven’t won an international tournament since the 2011 ODI World Cup, which was also played in India.
The power balance in global cricket has shifted towards India over the past decade through the introduction of the Indian Premier League and the far-reaching control of India’s governing body the BCCI.
India has been a dominant force in cricket for some time but without the regular trophies to show for it.
The subcontinental powerhouse has been virtually unbeatable in Test series at home and won the last two Test series in Australia, including when a second-string side ended Australia’s 32-year winning streak at the Gabba in 2021.
But these false dawns could make way for an almighty reign of world cricket if they win the final.
It’s long been said that the BCCI controls world cricket and that was evident this week when controversy emerged over a reported change to the pitch for the semi-final between India and New Zealand.
While playing on used pitches isn’t uncommon, it’s the fact that local officials and curators went behind the back of the ICC consultant to change the pitch to one that suited the host nation that has riled cricket fans the most.
In response the ICC said in a wishy washy statement: “Changes to planned pitch rotations are common towards the end of an event of this length, and has already happened a couple of times,” it read.
“This change was made on the recommendation of the venue curator in conjunction with our host.
“The ICC independent pitch consultant was apprised of the change and has no reason to believe the pitch won’t play well.”
The final will be held in Ahmedabad and even the Australians acknowledge they will need to adapt to a pitch that will likely suit India.
“I guess we’ll find out when we get to Ahmedabad tomorrow and see if it’s a fresh wicket or an old wicket,” Mitchell Starc said after the semi-final win over South Africa.
On the The Grade Cricketer, Australian podcasters Sam Perry and Ian Higgins said it was important to acknowledge India’s dominance on the field while also questioning the ethics of choosing pitches that suit the team.
“When you start to focus on the unfairness of them ordering in their pitches, which I think has been relatively proven, then you are taking away from the excellence of the cricket on the field,” Perry said.
“Doctoring the pitch doesn’t make you hit eight sixes in an innings, you know what I mean. You have to be really good to do that.
“But you have to try and strike some kind of balance in going, ‘This team is f***ing unbelievable and you’ve got to pay respect to it’. And if they win the World Cup, which they will and should, then history will be written by the winner.
“But by the same token, you should also be able to say, ‘Ordering in decks when it’s an international tournament is a bit how-ya-going’.”
Higgins added: “It’s f**king bulls**t. The team is so good that they don’t need this. The team is so good. Do they need these little one-percenters that give the world a stick to beat India with.”
There’s an overwhelming sense that Sunday’s final isn’t just a cricket game but a chance for India to finally assert their dominance on the world stage.
“It’s hard to separate my cultural observations, the pain that was caused fundamentally through colonialism and then subsequent issues from that is so profound and so deeply felt,” Higgins said.
“Over the last few years, basically since the inception of the IPL, cricket has shifted its power towards India now. They are the ones in control of the game. They are pushing the direction of the game in whatever direction they want.
“I think the pain, not just in the cricket sense but geopolitically, that is felt in the nation — now it’s their time.
“It’s their World Cup. They’ve got the best players, they’ve got the record-breakers, they’ve got the celebrities coming to them, everyone’s bowing down to them.
“And if I’m and Indian fan I’m like, ‘I don’t give a f**k about what you think about what happened or you’re feeling, this is our time. You guys f***ed us for years.”
The irony in the pitch controversy is that India’s team is so good they would dominate on whatever surface — fast, slow, turning or two-paced.
Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar made this point when he called pitch critics “morons” and said India’s team could win on any surface.
He’s exactly right, and that’s what makes the pitch doctoring controversy so farcical.
India has long had world class batters but finally they boast a fast bowling cartel that can win them games. Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have been unstoppable at this World Cup, and spinner Ravindra Jadeja has been one of India’s best players as usual.
Captain Rohit Sharma came across as a sore loser when he bemoaned India’s loss to Australia in the one-off World Test Championship Final earlier this year as another chance for silverware passed by.
But he’s led from the front at this World Cup, showing the fearlessness needed at the top of the order as he inspired his side to playing an attacking brand of cricket.
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Virat Kohli scored his 50th ODI century in the semi-final to overtake Sachin Tendulkar with the most hundreds ever in the 50-over format.
Tendulkar lifted the trophy on home soil in 2011 and King Kohli may well get his crowning moment too after dominating cricket through the 2010s in particular.
This World Cup has felt like India’s to win from the start. They have everything to win and just as much to lose in the final.
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